In a long outage, a disaster or a war, communication fails in layers. Cell sites run on backup batteries and generators that can run dry within hours or days, networks jam when everyone calls at once, and internet service needs power at every step. What usually keeps working is broadcast radio, which reaches you as long as you have a receiver and batteries.
Our picks at a glance
From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.
- 1
Must have
Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather AM/FM Radio
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 2
Family two-way radios
Midland GXT1000VP4 GMRS Two-Way Radios, 2 Pack
50 GMRS channels
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 3
Reach anyone, anywhere
Garmin inReach Messenger Satellite Communicator
28 days battery
Check price on AmazonPaid link
So build communication in two directions. Incoming: a radio that hears NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System on AM and FM, and ideally shortwave for news from farther away. Outgoing: two-way radios for your household and neighbors, and a satellite messenger if you need to reach someone far away with no network at all.
None of it helps without a plan. Agree now on an out-of-area contact everyone checks in with, where you meet if you are separated, and which radio channel your family uses. We have not tested these radios ourselves. Specs come from the makers' listings.
Top picks, and why
Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather AM/FM Radio
NOAA weather alerts plus AM and FM, charged by hand crank, solar or its built-in battery, and it also takes AA cells. It has a flashlight and can top up a phone. The radio to keep in the kitchen drawer. under $100.
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Midland GXT1000VP4 GMRS Two-Way Radios, 2 Pack
- NOAA alert
- AA backup
- Headsets
A pair of 50 channel GMRS radios with NOAA weather alert, rechargeable packs with AA backup, and headsets. GMRS needs an FCC license, which takes no exam and covers your immediate family. under $100.
- NOAA weather alert built in
- Runs on AA when the packs die
- 50 channels, 142 privacy codes
- GMRS needs an FCC license, no exam
- Real range is far below the box claim
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Garmin inReach Messenger Satellite Communicator
- Satellite SOS
- 2-way text
Two-way texts and SOS over satellite with no cell network, and up to 28 days of battery in 10 minute tracking mode. Needs a satellite subscription, and some countries restrict satellite devices. $250 to $500.
- Texts and SOS with no cell network
- Up to 28 days battery (10 min tracking)
- Can top up a phone
- Needs a satellite subscription
- Some countries restrict satellite devices
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Compare every pick
Paid links: we earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you. Amazon prices change often, so we show a range and link to the live price.
Hearing warnings and news
NOAA Weather Radio is a network of National Weather Service transmitters that broadcast warnings around the clock, including non-weather hazards. A radio with S.A.M.E. coding sounds only for alerts in the counties you program, so you can leave it on all night. AM and FM stations carry the Emergency Alert System, and AM in particular travels far at night.
Shortwave reaches much farther. If local stations go off the air, a shortwave receiver can still pick up international broadcasters. It is receive only, but in a long crisis outside news matters.
Power your radios from things you can refill: AA batteries you store and rotate, a hand crank, a small solar panel or a power station.
Midland WR400 NOAA Weather Alert Radio
- NOAA S.A.M.E.
- AA backup
- USB out
A plug-in NOAA alert radio with S.A.M.E. county programming, 80 alert types, an 85 dB siren and AA battery backup. It wakes you for a warning at 3 a.m. under $100.
- Sounds for local alerts, 80 types
- S.A.M.E. county programming
- AA battery backup
- Plug-in, not a hand crank radio
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Kaito KA321 Pocket AM/FM/Shortwave Radio
- AM/FM/SW
- DSP
A pocket 10 band AM, FM and shortwave radio with DSP tuning for hearing distant stations if local ones go down. under $100.
- Shortwave reaches past local stations
- Pocket size
- DSP tuning
- Receive only
- No NOAA weather band
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Talking to family and neighbors
FRS radios need no license but are low power. GMRS radios like the Midland GXT1000 transmit at higher power on more channels. The FCC requires a GMRS license, applied for online with no exam, and one license covers your immediate family. Box range claims like 36 miles assume a mountaintop. Expect a mile or two between houses, more with clear line of sight.
Ham radio reaches much farther, across a region or the world, but it needs a license with an exam and more equipment. If you want to go deeper, a local amateur radio club is the place to start, and many run emergency nets.
Pick a primary and backup channel with your family and neighbors, and practice. A radio nobody has used in two years, with dead batteries in a drawer, is not a plan.
Reaching people far away
When calls fail, texts often still go through because they need much less network capacity. Keep messages short and save battery by turning off apps you do not need.
With no network at all, a satellite messenger is the only consumer option for reaching someone in another state. The Garmin inReach Messenger sends two-way texts and an SOS to Garmin's 24/7 response center over satellite. It needs an active subscription, so price that in.
Write your plan on paper: phone numbers, the out-of-area contact, meeting places and radio channels. Phones die and contacts live in phones. Ready.gov has a free family communication plan template.
The bottom line
From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.
- 1
Must have
Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather AM/FM Radio
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 2
Family two-way radios
Midland GXT1000VP4 GMRS Two-Way Radios, 2 Pack
50 GMRS channels
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 3
Reach anyone, anywhere
Garmin inReach Messenger Satellite Communicator
28 days battery
Check price on AmazonPaid link
Frequently asked questions
What is the best emergency radio?
One that receives NOAA Weather Radio plus AM and FM, and runs on more than one power source, such as a hand crank, solar and AA batteries. The Midland ER310 does all of that and can charge a phone.
Do I need a license for GMRS radios?
Yes. The FCC requires a GMRS license, but there is no exam, you apply online, and one license covers your immediate family. FRS radios need no license but have lower power.
How far do two-way radios really reach?
Much less than the box says. Claims like 36 miles assume a clear line of sight from high ground. Between houses in a neighborhood, plan on about a mile or two.
How do I communicate if cell towers are down?
Listen with a NOAA, AM/FM or shortwave radio. Talk locally with GMRS or FRS two-way radios. Reach people far away with a satellite messenger, or ham radio if you are licensed. Agree on meeting places and an out-of-area contact in advance.
Does a satellite messenger work without cell service?
Yes. Devices like the Garmin inReach Messenger send texts and SOS directly over satellite, with no cell network. They need an active satellite subscription.
5 products are linked on this page. We have not lab-tested these products; picks are based on published specifications and our sizing rules. Amazon prices change, so we show a range and link to the live price. See our disclosure.
Size it for your home
Marcus Reed
Founder and Editor, CrunchYourDollars
Marcus Reed builds the sizing tools on CrunchYourDollars. He is a software engineer with a long-running PC hardware and power supply habit, which is where the watts, watt-hours and surge math on this site comes from. Product specs are pulled from manufacturer data sheets, electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and water chemistry rules from the Water Quality Association. He is not a licensed electrician or plumber: the tools show the math and the matching models so you can make the call, and anything involving your electrical panel should be checked by a licensed pro.
More about CrunchYourDollars and how we researchGet notified when we add tools
An occasional email when a new sizing tool goes live or the product database is refreshed. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.